Now let's party...pioneer style!
Little House Party Beginning
Upon arrival, the prairie party guests climbed, walked, and balanced on the tree stumps. When everyone had arrived, we gathered for popcorn and the picture book Winter Days in the Big Woods (affiliate link). Though all of our guests knew about the Little House books, I still felt it was important to provide a fresh reminder of pioneer life.
The popcorn was served in paper bags.
Little House Party Work Activities
After story time, Big Sister passed out the homemade pioneer aprons so the girls could get to work.
We made homemade butter-not quite pioneer style. I instructed the girls to shake until they were tired and then to pass it on to a friend. While shaking the homemade butter, we continued to work.
We gathered vegetables-pioneer style. Prior to the guests' arrival, I scattered potatoes, onions, carrots, and sweet potatoes throughout our flowerbed to create the "vegetable garden." I wrote more about the Little House garden harvest. See that link for details.
Then it was wash time-pioneer style. A wicker laundry basket full of laundry "needed" to be washed. I had collected enough washcloths for each guest to wash two. If I were to do it again, I would provide enough laundry so each guest could have three or four turns. The washboard was most popular pioneer activity of the party. Washboard laundry are also a huge hit during my pioneer presentations with all ages.
Little House Party Conclusion
We wrapped up with some fiddle music and a bit of dancing. We may have used a CD player for the music, but the guests were having too much fun to notice. The pioneer party guests asked for more work, more food, and more dancing before departing in their covered wagons. Big Sister presented each girl with their brown shopping bag from the mercantile. The party guests wore their pioneer aprons home.Another option is to use the Little House Garden Game and have the party guests complete the game in pairs or teams or let them take it home. It could even be completed on poster board with the teams in two different rooms or under two different trees in the backyard.
If the party guests know the books well, you could prepare with the Little House in the Big Woods Discussion Guide for some good conversation.
Edited: Need more ideas? I included 75 activities and recipes in my book The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion. (affiliate)
You might be interested in our other Little House Party Ideas. More are coming soon!
Our Little House pioneer birthday party activities were lots of fun for Big Sister and her friends.
~ Annette Whipple
Annette Whipple is a nonfiction children's author. Learn more about her books and presentations at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.
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